water changes

[marinefish]

i hear a lot about how water changes are important and to have a successful reef, water changes must be done periodically depending on the need of the tank. my question is i have a 20g reef tank. would i be better off change 1 gallon of water per week or doing two gallons every two weeks. if there is no difference in the two changes, then which would you guy guys prefer? one gallon per week or two gallons every two weeks? if there is a difference between the two methods, please provide the significant difference and the benefits to the one which is thought to be better. thank you

 

[thomas712]

This question is an either or. Depends on the system, maintinance, feeding, DOC's...Does it need a water change, are the trace elements exhausted, water turning yellow, buffers or calcium low.
If it were me I would shoot for the 2 gal change every two weeks and as you will be the expert on your system, you will have to decide if it needs changing sooner.
Benifits include, replacement of trace elements, buffer, calcium, removal of doc's, nitrate removal.
Thomas

 

[dreeves]

Less amounts more often is the way one would think to go. Less strain on the bio filtration.

 

[slick]

Originally posted by dreeves
Less amounts more often is the way one would think to go. Less strain on the bio filtration.
Water changes have nothing to do with bio filtration. It won't really matter which way you do it. Large water changes will change your water chemistry faster. So if your water is bad do a few small water changes first. Then do a larger one.

 

[dreeves]

You are incorrect about the water changes affecting the bio filtration.
Do a 50% or more water change and then let us all know what happens to your tank...

 

[entice59]

50% or more? thats not right. no more then 25% for each water change. i recommend 10-15% every week or two weeks. basically 2 gallons every two weeks, depending on how much you feed your tank and your bio-load. I feed my 15 gallon twice a week to keep everything stable. If you over feed you can get excess algae growth, and possibliy hair algae and cyno

 

[tangtang]

I think smaller, weekly changes will lend more to a stable environment in a small tank.

 

[dreeves]

Entice...I am aware of water change schedules...if you read the entire thread you would see that was not for the original poster with which had a question.

 

[entice59]

i can see that now, sorry for the misunderstanding

 

[jackdp]

In my 20gallon, I do a 3 gallon change every week to week and a half and have had no problems with livestock, chemistry etc.